This car is the reason you want to live in Belgium

Hyundai will discontinue its sporty N models that run on petrol in Europe. The N version of the Hyundai i30 is no longer available in the Netherlands. But still in Belgium. Enough reason to go out one last time with the Hyundai i30N!

Few car manufacturers have succeeded in building a new sports label from scratch with just one letter, which at the same time boosts the brand’s image. This is now also the case with BMW (M). Hyundai success. But that is not surprising, because Hyundai got none other than Albert Biermann to shape the N label. The German was first responsible for the M3 at BMW M and was given the task by Hyundai to transform the colorless i30 into a five-door M3 competitor

“The letter N stands for Namyang, Hyundai’s R&D center in South Korea. ”

The N is not a Hyundai i30 with a slightly stiffer chassis and a spoiler here and there, but a serious sports car, especially in the Performance version that we drove. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine produces 280 hp and 392 Nm. This impressive power is transferred to the asphalt via an electronic limited-slip differential, Pirelli P Zero tires tailored to the car with Hyundai designation and a finely tuned suspension with adaptive dampers. If you opt for the optional crossmembers, you also get a six percent stiffer body.

Hyundai i30N sounds masterfully beautiful

You’ll be having fun before you even drive a meter with the Hyundai i30N. As soon as you start the i30, the engine sounds masterfully beautiful, but without coming across as aggressive. The Hyundai i30N is a great car for its engine noise alone. The 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (a 6-speed manual gearbox is also available) makes optimal use of the power and torque, and the Hyundai i30 N manages one corner after another with astonishing ease.

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Tip

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No stress

We approach a sharp bend and press the brake pedal briefly and firmly. The Hyundai i30 responds with just the right amount of braking power so as not to lose too much speed and we take the corner faster than we thought. It is especially in bends that the Hyundai 130N makes a stunning impression. The fantastic working limited slip differential ensures that you never get stressed.

Pacman

Just when you think the i30 N is at the top of its game, pressing the ‘N Grin Shift’ button (a kind of launch control) puts an end to this thought. For 20 seconds, the South Korean athlete pulls everything out of his power and torque box and blasts onto the straight. He devours the elongated bends that follow like a Pacman possessed by the ghosts he encounters on his path.

With incredible playfulness you can tempt the butt to upset. These load changes are extremely entertaining and increase the fun you can have with the fastest Hyundai i30. There is hardly any understeer.

Hyundai i30N test conclusion

Hyundai can be very grateful to the former development head of BMW M, because what Albert Biermann has done with the colorless Hyundai i30 borders on the unbelievable. The metamorphosis could not have been greater. No wonder that the Hyundai i30 N has already built up a huge fan base in such a short time. It remains to be seen whether this will also be possible with the electric N models. Although the specifications of the Hyundai ioniq5 N do not lie (see the link below).